Board splitting machine



May 11, 1954 H. H. PROVENCE BOARD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l s x N (Q a q (q 1 INVENTOR z f l'jer/flj rol/e/rae ATTORNEY y 1954 H. H'. PROVENCE BOARD SPLITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1950 I INVENVTORV @5330 E Pro Vex/c e ATTORNEY BY. I

y 1, 1954 H. H. PROVENCE 7 2,678,099

BOARD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4/ IN VENTOR fizierfflfroyewee ATTORNEY y 11, {1954 H. H. PROVENCE BOARD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY y 1, 1954 H. H. PROVENCE 2,678,099

BOARD SPLITTING MACHINE Filed May 5, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES"PATENT OFFICE BOARD SPLITTING MACHINE Herbert H. Provence, Greenville, S. 0.

Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,211

This invention relates to a board splitting machine and has relation more particularly to provide a machine for splitting the end portions of pulp board sheets to facilitate fabrication of cloth winding boards.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind operating to deliver in required sequence the boards in required position to have the .end portions thereof operated upon by a splitting means and to eject each board after the splitting operation.

The invention also has for an object to provide a machine of this kind including splitting knives mounted for movement one toward or from the other, together with means for shifting a sheet between the knives when separated and for ejecting a preceding sheet that may be between the knives and split, together with means for operating the knives and shifting means in required timed sequence.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind including a bed together with a magazine for holding a stack of sheets to one side of the bed and wherein further means are provided for intermittently shifting sheets fromv the stack into the bed.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a machine includin a bed upon which a sheet to be split is positioned together With means for compressing the marginal portion or portions of the sheet to be split to facilitate the cutting operation.

The invention also embodies as an object to provide a machine of this kind including a bed with means for shifting a sheet to be split upon the bed and wherein further means are provided to clamp the sheet in working position upon the bed during the splitting operation, said last named means being inefiective after the splitting operation to allow the sheet to be ejected from the bed.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of its kind including means for intermittently shifting sheets in position for the splitting operation and wherein means are provided for retarding such movement of the sheets to assure the same assuming proper position under the action of the shifting means for the sheets.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide a machine of this kind including a bed, a splitting meanson the bed, means for intermittently shifting sheets on the bed into position for splitters, and a medium for frictionally engaging each sheet as it is shifted on the table 6 Claims. (Cl. 164-51) to prevent said shift being thrown out of splitting position by the shifting means.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved Board Splitting Machine whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 171s a view in top plan of a machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the machine as comprised in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2:

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of a splitting blade unapplied;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line lit-l0 of Figure 2;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary View in perspective of an end portion of a board illuminating the work done by the machine.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail view in end elevation of a corner of the machine illustrating the mounting for the cam operated rock arm;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary detail View partly in elevation and partly in section showing the intermediate bearing for the main shaft;

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view taken substantia-lly on the line I l-I4 of Figure 2;

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line Iii-45 of Figure 2;

Figure 16 is. a fragmentary detail view partly in section and partly in elevation of the cam operated pitman, and

Figure 17 is a view in top plan of one of the wedge plates unapplied.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanyin drawings, SI denotes a skeletonized supporting structure including the corner uprights or posts I, the lower portions of the two of which at each side of the structure being connected by the interposed beam 2 rigidly secured thereto. Connecting the two beams 2 at one end portion of the structure S are the transversely disposed spaced parallel members 3 upon which is mounted an electric power unit P including a power take-off gear 4. This gear 4 meshes with a large gear 5 fixed to the power'shaft t for the machine. Each end portion of the shaft 5 is operatively engaged with an underhung bearing .1 carried by an intermediate side beam 8 spaced above a side beam. 2 and rigidly connected to the corner posts I. The shaftt is also disposed through an upstanding bearing 9 carried by a beam fia'exten'ding'lengthwise of the frame and interposed between and rigidly secured to the cross members It connecting the corresponding end cornerposts l.

Between the gear wheel 5 and the intermediate bearing a is a circular cam disk H eccentrically mounted on the shaft 6 for rotation therewith.

snugly surrounding this disk It is a strap l2 carried by an extremity of a pitman M. This pitman 14 is disposed inwardly of the structure S and the outer end portion thereof is operatively connected, as at it, with an elongated rack bar l6 freely disposed through and supported by the endwalls ll of a box A for reciprocal movement. The stroke of the rack bar It is determined by the throw of the disk i i.

As herein embodied, the box A is substantially midway of the ends of the structure S and is rigidly carried by the channel beam 9ainterposed between and rigidly connected to the endcross members H3. 1

Extending into the box A from the top thereof is the lower end portion of a vertical shaft l9 operatively engaged at its bottom portion with a bearing 2% on the bottom of the box A. The portion of the shaft I9 within the box A has rotating therewith a gear 21 which is constantly in mesh with the rack bar It so that the shaft [9 will be rotated to an extent determined by the stroke of the'ra'ck bar [6.

The upper end portion of the shaft ['9' has rotating therewith a gear 22 interposed between and constantly in mesh with the parallel rack bars 'Ztextending inwardly from and at opposite sides of the knifeblocks 24 there being, of course, only one bar 23 for each of theblocks 24.

The blocks 24 are of desired dimensions and are slidably mounted on the parallel tracks 25 extending from one end of the structure 55 to the other end operatively supported upon the top end cross members 2'? connecting to the top portions of the posts I at each end of the structure S.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the tracks 25 have their end portions resting from above upon the base members 28 mounted on the cross members 2'5 and held in position by the bolts 2e or otherwise as may be preferred. Each of thesebase members 22 has imposed thereon and extending therealong a block 36 snugly fitting between the tracks 25. The upper face of the block 38 has disposed transversely thereacross a channel 3! in which snugly and slidably engage an end portion of a'bar 23. Eachblocktl] is held in position upon its associated base member 28 by the bolts 29.

The blocks 39 are held in position upon the base members 28 by the bolts 29 and the rack bars 23 are of such lengths to engage at all times with the'blocks 39 at both ends of the structure S.

Each of the knife blocks 24 at each end thereof is provided thereacross with a depending flange 32 having close contact with the outer side'face of a track 25 and having its lower bottom edge face substantially flush with the bottom face of the track 25 which, as shown in the drawings, is rectangular in cross section. A plate 33 is bolted, as at 34, or otherwise detachably held to the bottom edge face of the flange 32 and closely under lies the adjacent track 25 so that the knife block is effectively maintained in working position.

Bolted, as at 35, or otherwise securely anchored to the outer corner portions of each knife block 24 are the upstanding brackets 36 in alignment lengthwise of the block and which supports a rock shaft 37. Fixed to the shaft 3'! inwardly of but in close proximity to the brackets 36 are the parallel rock arms 38 connected for unitary swinging movement in the same direction by an interposed rigid member 39 These arms 38 rotatably support between their outer or free end portions a pressure roller 49 to engage the work from above at a selected distance beyond but at all times in close proximity to the cutting edge of the applied knife 4!. Requisite pressure for the roller 45, when the machine is in operation, is created by the expansible member 42, herein disclosed as a coil spring, encircling the upper portion of an elongated headed shank 43 inserted from below through the inner marginal portion of theblock 24 at substantially the longitudinal center thereof and freely through the member'39. The expansible member 42 is interposed between the top face of the member 39 and an enlargement or nut 44 threaded upon the upper extremity of the shank 43. The tension of the member or spring 42 may be regulated within certain limitations by adjustment of the member or nut 44 along the shank 43.

The knife 4!, as herein disclosed, is rectangular in plan and of a length to extend entirely across the two tracks 25 carried by the supporting structure S. The knife 4! is also of material width and has its top surface a plane and disposed on an incline from the rear edge of the knife to the opposite edge or working portion. The working longitudinal marginal portion of the knife is beveled, as at b, to provide a sharp cutting edge c flush with the bottom plane face of the knife.

The knife 4| is placed from'above on the inner marginal portion of the knife block 24 with the cutting edge e of the knife a desired distance outwardly from the adjacent longitudinal edge of the block 24. In the rear portion thereof the knife 4| is provided with the slots H0 through each of which passes a headed shank 45 inserted from below through the knife block 24. Thread ing upon the upper portion of the shank 45 is a clamping nut 46 to engage the knife from above to hold the same in selective adiustment as allowed by the associated slot tie and as determined by the desired placement of the cutting edge 0 with respect to the inner edge of the block 24.

'The rear portion of the knife 4: is also provided with a suitably positioned slot 41 through which the shank 43 passes. Associated with the opposite end portions of the applied knife 4| are the wedge plates 43 which are interposed between the knife 4! and the knife block 24.

These wedge plates 43 provide means for adjusting the knives 4| by movement of the wedge plates in the required direction for the necessary distance, after which the nuts 46 are tightened to lock the knife 4! in selective vertical adjustment as may be required by the thickness of the sheet 49 to be slit by the knife M. The headed shanks 45 are disposed through slots 41b disposed longitudinally in the outer or rear portions of the Wedge plates 48. 1 i

When the knife blocks 24 are in their outermost positions, the sheet 49 to be slitted at its ends is delivered in required position upon the bed B mounted upon and supported by the central portions of the tracks 25. The sheet 49 is held in position on the bed B during the working operation thereon by the elongated pressure members 56 which in proper timing bear down upon the sheet 49 and hold the same in fixed position upon the bed B. The pressure members 50 are substantially in parallelism and extend across the bed B a distance substantially equal to the width of the sheet 49.

Each of the pressure members 56 at its end portions is provided with upstanding posts 5| which snugly but firmly engage within the downwardly opening sockets F2 in the elongated heads 53. See Figure 3. Threading into each of the heads 53 is a binding screw 53a for contact with the portion of the post 5| within the socket 52 of said headed member 53 so that the pressure member 56 may be held in selectedadjustment with respect to the headed member 53 as the requirements of practice may dictate.

Each head 53 is provided with an upstanding post 54 which freely engages from below within a downwardly facing socket 55 of a bracket member M. This member M is carried by a pair of bars 56 extending the full length of the structure S. The extremities of each bar 56 rest upon the upper ends of the vertically disposed columns 5! held upon the extremities of a track 25 by the bolts 58 which extend up from the base members 28 and thread into the lower end portions of the columns 51. Each bar 56 is held upon the columns 51 by the bolts 58a passing down through the bar 56 and threading into the upper end portions of the columns 51.

As herein embodied each of the bars 56 is rectangular in cross section from end to end and the innerface of the body member 60 of each of the bracket members M is provided thereacross with a groove 6| which snugly receives the inner face portion of the associated bar 56. The

body 66 at the top of each groove 6! is provided with an outstanding arm 62 perpendicular to the axis of the body 66 which arm has close contact from above with the associated bar 56. The outer end portion of each arm 62 carries a depending lug 63having close contact with the outer edge face of the associated bar 56, and the outer end face of each lug 63 is slightly above the under face of the bar 56. face of each lug 63 by the bolt 64 is a holding plate 65 underlying the adjacent bar 56 and clamping thereagainst by the bolt 64, whereby the bracket member may be held in selected position along the bar 56 as required by the length of the sheet 49. p

I The sockets 55 are each in the lower portion of a body member 66 of the bracket and extending through the upper portion of each body member 60 is a bore 66a through which passes an elongate stem 66 which is integral with and extends axially from the adjacent post 54. The sockets 55 are each of a depth considerably greater than the length of the post 54 therein and interposed between the inner or inserted end of each post 54 and the bottom of the socket 55 is an expansible member 61 of required tension and which is herein disclosed as a coil spring surrounding the stem 66.

' The stems 66 have their upper or free end por- Held to the outer end' tions connected by an interposed rigid tie member 68 so that the head members 53 will move in unison and in the same direction. The upper or free end portion of each of the stems 66 is disposed through an opening 69 in an end portion of the tie member 68 and threading upon the stem above and below the tie member 68 and bearing thereagainst are the holding nuts ill. By this means the tie member 68 may be adjusted as required lengthwise of the stems 66 and eifectively held in selected adjustment.

In assembly, the bracket members M are side by side in arrangement and are provided with the inwardly disposed and aligned bosses H in the opposed end faces of which are rotatably received the outstanding trunnions 12 at the axial center of a flanged roller 73. Riding upon each roller 13 is a shifter bar 74 having its under or contacting surface straight and unobstructed while the upper portion of the bar 14 at its inner end portion is provided with an elongated recess '15 the opposite ends of which constitute cam shoulders 16. The recess 15 is of a length and of a depth to allow the associated pressure member 50 to have required clamping action on the sheet 49 during the cutting operation.

The shifter bar (4 moves with the knife block 24 and is positioned substantially midway of the tracks 25.

The upper portions of the brackets 36 are provided with the inwardly disposed and aligned arms T7 to which are bolted as at 18, or otherwise secured thereto, the extremities of a cross member 19. Rigid with the central portion of the cross member 79 is an upstanding pedestal 80 having in its'top face a groove 8| in which seats the outer end portion of a bar 14. Extending upwardly from the pedestal 83 at opposite side of the groove 8| are the shanks 62 which extend up through the end portions of a holding member 83 contacting from above with a bar 14 and held in clamping action therein by the nuts '84 threaded upon the shanks outwardly of the holding member 83. This mounting of the bar 14 permits the same to be adjusted lengthwise to assure the desired positioning of the cam shoulders i6 with respect to the coasting bracket mem ber M or more specially the top roller 14 rides upon the top surface of a shifter rod M. This roller 14' is positioned below the central portion of the tie member 68 and is rotatably supported by and between the bearings 85 depending from the tie member 68. As the expansible members or springs 61 constantly urge the stems 68 downwardly, the top roller will at all times be in rolling contact from above with the bar 74 and thusassuring the desired downward movement of the pressure member 56 to have effective holding contact with the sheet 49 when required.

The bed B herein embodied comprises a relatively large central plate 86 bolted from below same length as such length is determined by the requirements of the consumer. To meet with The top surface thiscondition the tracks 25 support thereon ad jacent to the opposite ends of the plate 96 the supplemental plates 89, each of which is readily shiftable toward or from the plate 99 as the requirements of practice may demand. Each of these plates 89 is materially broad and underlying the end portions of the plates'89 and disposed transversely thereof is a clamping jaw 90 having a lip 9I engaging from below the adjacent track 25 whereby under the action of the bolt 92, the plate 89 may be securely held in selected adjustment with respect to the main plate 86.

r The supplemental plates 89 in their upper surfaces are provided therealong with the grooves 93 in which are fitted the inner end portions of the elongated rigid arms 94 which extend a material distance beyond the one end of the bed B. The portions of the arms 94 within the grooves 93' are held to the plates 89 by the screws 95 or the like.

The arms 94 at desired distance outwardly from the plates 89 are provided with laterally and outwardly directed branch arms .96 preferably at right angles to the arms 93. The arms 96 are provided therealong with the spaced openings 97 to allow adjustable mounting thereon of upstanding stack retaining blades 98. The lower end of each blade 98 is provided with an outstanding foot 99 provided with an opening I99 to be brought into register with a selected opening 9? and through which registering openings'a holding bolt i901. or the like is inserted to maintain the blade in desired position. 7

The outer extremities of the arms 94 are also provided lengthwise thereof with the spaced openings IIlI to allow selected placing thereon of the upstanding retaining blades I92 for the outside of a stack of sheets 49 to .be operated upon. The lower end portion of each of these blades 192 is provided with an outstanding foot I93 having openings I04 to be brought into register with the desired opening I9I and through which registering openings holding bolts I95 or the like are insertable.

The lugs 93 of the members M on the track 25 beyond which the arms 94 extend have rigidly secured thereto the upstanding plates 183 to which are bolted, as at I91 or otherwise secured thereto the upstanding blades I03 for retaining connection with the inner side of the pile or stack of sheets 49.

The blades 98, I92 and I08 coact to provide a magazine for the pile or stack of sheets 49 and the adjustable mounting of the blades 98 and I02 allow for compensation for sheets of diiiering lengths or widths.

The sheets 49 within the magazine are individually fed from the bottom of the stack into proper position upon the bed B and during which operation the knives ll are at their outermost positions and the pressure members raised.

At suitable points inwardly of the grooves 93 the plate 86 is provided within its upper face with the relatively broad grooves I99 parallel to the grooves 93. Fitting within the outer side portions of the grooves I99 are end portions of the elongated arms H held to the plate 86 by the bolts III extending from below and threading into the arms H9. These arms H9 extend a material distance beyond the bed B from the same side as the arms 94 but herein shown as of greater length. The outer extremities of the arms III} are connected by the interposed cross member I IOa for maintaining the extended portions of the arms H0 in parallel relation.

8 The opposed faces of the extended portions of the arms H9 are provided along the upper part thereof with the rabbets I I2 which provides tracks for the elongated feeding members H3. The inner portions of these arm members H3 slidably and snugly engage with the grooves I99 to one side ofthe applied inner portions of the arms H9. The outer end extremities of the arms H3 are connected by an interposed head Ihi'which maintains said outer portion in desired parallel relation for efiectiveengagement with the arms H0. This head H4 is welded to the inner or opposite faces of the arms H3 with its bottom face flush with the under surfaces of the arms H3. Detachably held by bolts I I5 or the like to the under face of the head H4 is a plate Hfiwhich extends beyond the ends of the head and underlies the arms H0 whereby the arms I I3 are maintained in working positions.

Positioned upon the outer portions of the arms I. i3 and extending therealong are the plates II! of brass or other hard metal and which are detachably held in place by the screws Ilia. or the like. These plates H! are of lengths greater than the width of the sheets 49 within the maga zine with the inner end of the plates I H in transverse alignment to provide shoulders I9 for contact with the lowermost sheet 49 of a stack or pile to shift such sheet in proper positions upon the bed B between the knife blocksl i. When the arms H3 are at the limit of their'outward movement the shoulders H8 provided by the inner ends of the plates I I1 are'outwardly'beyond the stack or pile within the magazine.

Pivotally engaged from below, as at H9, to the central portion of the head'I I4 is an end portion of a rigid link I29 which is also pivotally connected as at I2I with a free end portion of a horizontally swinging sweep arm I22. 7

This sweep arm I22 extends inwardly'of the 7 structure from the end thereof adjacent to the shaft 6 and is fixedto the upper end portion of a vertically mounted shaft !23 which is held by the bearings I24 carried by a vertically disposed plate I25 rigid with the adjacent end arm member'2I and a second end cross member I23.

The lower part of the shaft I23 carries a laterally disposed arm I21 which engages with a continuous cam groove I28 in the periphery of a drum I29 fixed on the shaft 6 for rotation therewith. The throw of the cam groove I28 is such to rock the shaft I23 and more particularly the arm I22 to shift the arms I I3 back and forth in required time sequence to deliver a sheet 49 in place upon the bed .B for a slitting operation thereon.

At points spaced from the shoulders H8, a distance greater than the'width of a sheet 49, the arms H3 are provided with the elongated through openings I I3a at the forward portion of each of which is pivotally mounted the pin I39, and end portion of a dog I3I. This dog is of a length to normally extend above the upper surface of the arm H3 for contact with a sheet 49 on the bed B after the sheet has been slit so that as the arms move inwardly to deliver a succeeding sheet upon the bed the previously slitted sheet will be ejected from the opposite sideeof the bed.

The normal position of the dog is determined by contact of the dog I3I with the rear end wall of the opening H3a and such position is' maintained by a depending tail piece I32 integral with and depending from the lower or pivoted end of the dog I3I. This tail piece I32 is of a weight greater than that of the dog I3I proper.

The tail piece I32 is of a length to extend below the arm H3 when the dog I3I is in its normal position. To accommodate the outer portion of the tail piece, the bottom wall of the groove I09 below the arm H3 is provided therealong with a supplemental groove I33 of proper depth.

'Whenever desired, a dirt shield may be used. In the present instance such a. shield, I34 is provided along the upper portion of the supporting structure at the discharge or delivery side thereof. Carried by this shield I34 and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom are chute fingers I35 upon which a sheet 49 is initially received upon ejection from the bed B.

It is to be noted that when the arms H3 are at the limit of their feeding movement with re spect to the bed B the outer portions of the plates H1 are under the stack or pile within the magazine to assure uninterrupted return on outward movement of the arms H3.

It is also necessary that the plates H1 be movable as in practice such plates are subject to great wear and need frequently to be replaced although of brass or other hard metal.

It is important to provide means to retard the power movements of a sheet 49 as it is forced on the bed B by the arm I3 and it is preferred that a friction means be employed. As shown in the accompanying drawings this is obtained by suspending from the tracks 25 a head I36 extending across the bed B and of a length approximately the width of a sheet 49. Depending from the head are the bristles I31 of a length to closely engage the sheet from above as the sheet 49 moves onto the bed B.

In the present embodiment of the invention the head I36 is maintained inposition by the elongated hanger stems I38 which are rigidly secured to the end portions of the head I36 and extend up through the tracks 25. Threaded on each stem I38 are the binding nuts I39 above and below the associated track 25 for close contact with the track to lock the stem I38 in accordance with the desired adjustment of the bristles I31 of the head I38 with respect to the bed B.

While the machine as herein comprised is particularly adapted for use in splitting the ends of the sheets 49, Figure 11, for the production of cloth winding boards such as comprised in Patent No. 1,977,144 dated October 16, 1934, the

invention is not to be limited to this particular use.

. In practice a stack or pile of sheets 49 is placed within the magazine afforded by the blades 98, I92 and I98. Upon closing the circuit for the power unit P required reciprocation willibe effected for the feeding. members H3 together with the reciprocation in required timed sequence of the knife blocks 24, said blocks 24 being at the limit of their outward movements when the members H3 are at the limit of their inward or feeding movements.

As the feeding members H3 move inwardly from their outermost positions the shoulders H8 provided by the plates H1 on the members or arms H3 will contact the bottom sheet 49 of the stack or pile within the magazine and shift said sheet in proper position upon the bed B and during which shifting movement the pressure members 50 are maintained in their raised or ineffective position.

As the members or arms H3 move inwardly to shift a sheet 49 upon the bed B, the dogs I3I will contact a sheet 49 that may be on the bed and shift the same transversely across the bed B and eject the sheet beyond the side of the bed remote from the delivery side for the sheets. As the members or arms are retracted or moved outwardly the dogs I3I will readily swing upon contact with the sheet just delivered upon the bed 3 to readily pass under the sheet. It is also to be pointed out that as a sheet 49 is delivered upon the bed B, the bristles I31 will have sufficient frictional contact from above upon the sheet 49 to assure the sheet immediately coming to a stand-still when the arms or members H3 reach the limit of their inward or shifting movement. The bristles I31 are, however, sufficiently flexible or yieldable to allow a sheet 49 to be forced therebeneath.

As the arms or members H3 retract or move outwardly, the knife blocks 24 will be caused to simultaneously move inwardly toward the ends of the sheet 49 on the bed and for a distance sufiicient to cause the knives 4! to split the end portions of the sheet 49. Shortly after the knife blocks start their inward movements the recesses 15 in the bars 14 allow the pressure members 59 to bear down from above upon the sheet 49 on the bed B and effectively hold said sheet to allow for the splitting cutting action by the knives 4I. After the knife blocks 24 have been retracted or moved outwardly a distance to free the knives 4| from the sheet 49, the pressure members will be raised under the action of the inner cam members 16 of the bars 14.

As the blocks 24 approach the ends of the sheet 49 on the bed B and before the knives 4i enter the end portions of the sheet 49, said end portions of the sheet 49 are compressed by the rollers 49 so that the said end portions of the sheet 49 will be in the best possible position to assure the desired splitting operation.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a board splitting machine condescribed including a bed upon which a sheet is laid, a knife, a carrying block for the knife, means supporting the block for rectilinear movement relative to a side of the bed for effecting the splitting of an edge of the sheet by the knife when the blockis moved toward the bed, a pressure bar disposed across the bed, meanssupporting said bar for vertical movement to engage and hold the sheet to the bed when moved downwardly, means for. constantly urging the bar down into sheet holding position, means for reciprocably moving the block and means operatively connected to the block and the bar for effecting movement of the bar away from the bed against the action of said urging means to free the bar from the sheet when. the block is moved away from the bed and sheet.

2. A sheet slitting machine of the character described including a bed upon which a sheet is laid, a block, means supporting the block for movement toward or from a side of the bed and an edge of a sheet thereon, a knife carried by the block and having a cutting edge projecting toward the bed to enter an adjacent edge of a sheet upon the bed between the top and bottom 11 faces of the sheet when the block is moved toward the bed, a pressure bar disposed above and across the bed adjacent to the said side thereof, means supporting the bar for up and down movement, the bar when moved down engaging the sheet on the bed to hold the sheet, means constantly urging the bar toward the bed for clamping action, a shift bar operatively supported by and movable with the block and disposed in a plane above the bed, and coasting means between the clamping bar and the shift bar for raising the clamping bar upon movement of the block away from the bed and for permitting the bar urging means to move the clampingbar into holding engagement with the sheet during the cutting operation 'of the knife.

3. A sheet slitting machine of the character described including a bed upon which a sheet is laid, a block, means supporting the block for movement toward or from the adjacent side of the bed and an edge of a sheet thereon, a knife carried by the block and projecting toward the bed to enter an edge of the sheet upon the bed between the fiat surfaces of the sheet as the block moves toward the bed, a bracket carried by and movable with the block, a bar secured to the bracket and extending toward and over the bed, said bar having a longitudinal recess therein having end cam shol'ilders, a clamping bar disposed across the bed to engage a sheet to hold the latter to the bed, guide brackets supported above the bed at opposite sides thereof, elongate stems freely disposed through the guide brackets for vertical movement, means operatively connecting the lower portions of the stems to the clamping bar, means for constantly urging the stems and clamping bartoward the bed to main-1 tain the clamping bar "in sheet holding position, 7

a tie member connecting the upper portions of the stems and movable therewith, an underhung roller carried by the tie member, a second roll-er positioned between and rotatably 'supiported'by the guide brackets, said rollers being spaced one above the other, said recessed bar being disposed betweenfand constantly engaged by the rollers,

s aid bar extending in the same general direction as the path of travelof the block, the re- 'cessed surface of the bar being engaged by the roller of the tie, membelg'the clamping bar being sheet holding position when the roller of the tie member is within the recess and held out of such p'ositionwhen the roller of the tie member is elevated at ment with said cam ends. 7

4; Apparatus for, splitting an edge of a fiber sheet, comprising a'pa ir of elongate guide tracks, a sheet supporting bed disposed above and across the tracks, a knife block disposed horizontally across the tracks and slidably connected thereto for;rectilinear movement relative to the bed, an

ither end-of the recess "by engageelongate knife secured to and across said block 7 V and having a cutting edge projecting beyond'the block toward the bed in a horizontal plane,

tracks, a pair of spaced stems vertically supported above the bed by the second bracket for up and down movement in a vertical plane in front of the maximum advance position of the knife edge, spring means constantly urging downward movement of the stems, an elongate shift bar secured at one end to said clamp means and having rectilinear movement with said block, spaced cam elements carried by said shift bar, said'shift bar extending across the second bracket, coupling means between said stems, a follower element carried by the coupling means for engagement by said cam elements to lift the stemsagainst the action of saidcsprings, a pressure bar 'connected with the lower ends of the stems for, en-

gaging a sheet adjacent to said maximum ad- 'vance position of the knife edge to hold the sheet on the bed, and means for reciprocably moving the knife blocks on the tracks.

5. Apparatus of the character stated in claim 4. wherein said knife has its cutting edge disposed to extend at a forward and downward inclination relative'to the top surface of the supporting block, and a means for changing said inclination comprising a tapered wedge member interposed between the back portion of the knife and the block.

6. Apparatus of the character stated in claim 4, with arock shaft connected between said bracket members, a pair of arms carried by and extending forwardly from the shaft, a pressure roller supported between the forward ends of therarms in advance of the cutting edge of the knife, and spring means operatively coupled between the arms and block and urging the arms and roller downward, said roller being positioned between the knife edge and the pressure bar when the knife has completed its movement toward the bed. 7 V

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES'PATENTS 2,437,738 Hanggi; Mar; 16,1948 

